The last time Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer shared the court was the 2020 Australian Open semifinals, where the Serbian overcame the Swiss maestro. Six years on, even with Roger Federer long retired, his ghost still lingers on the courts in Melbourne. Probably why Djokovic’s exhibition match against Frances Tiafoe ahead of the Australian Open saw one cheeky spectator chanting Federer’s name.

In the January 15 match, the Serbian was caught off guard when chants of “Let’s go, Roger!” echoed through the crowd as he prepared to serve. It was clearly a playful nod to his long-time rival Roger Federer, who retired in 2022.

He froze mid-movement, looked into the crowd with a stunned expression, and then cracked a smile before pretending to laugh at the joke comically. Seeing that, the audience, too, burst out laughing. After playing along with the crowd’s jokes, the Serbian secured a 6-3, 6-4 win against Tiafoe.

Novak Djokovic, though, has heard almost every kind of crowd reaction throughout his career.

During the 2020 French Open, Novak Djokovic was captured delivering a withering glare at a fan who was wearing a Roger Federer hat and reportedly heckling during his first-round match. At that time, the Serb gave a long and cold stare in the fan’s direction before using his racket to knock the clay from his shoes and blowing a kiss towards him.

Then at the 2023 Australian Open, yet another fan tried to disrupt Djokovic’s concentration during his third-round match against Grigor Dimitrov by yelling Federer’s name. As Djokovic prepared himself to direct a serve at his Bulgarian opponent, somebody shouted, “Come on, Roger.”

The Serb then casually strolled back to his mark. But shortly after that, the commentator was heard saying, “Oh, the irony of that, after somebody called out, ‘Come on, Roger,’ Djokovic goes around the net post with a forehand.” Later on, Djokovic went on to beat Dimitrov in straight sets, securing his place in the R16.

But this wasn’t the only time in this exhibition game that the players had to put a pin in their game.

In the first game, as Djokovic prepared to serve, the arena roared with a baby’s cry. With how the matchup was turning out for Tiafoe, he responded to the baby, “I know,” suggesting that he also felt like crying. The Serb laughed at that gesture too before handing Tiafoe a loss.

Interestingly, Djokovic has seemingly always used those taunts and funny interruptions as motivating factors to win. Both Djokovic and Federer have faced each other 50 times in their careers. But the Serb has managed to win 27 of those matches. On the court, they’ve always been fierce rivals. But off the court, as Djokovic has often said, they were never friends, yet never enemies either.

Novak Djokovic talks about his relationship with Roger Federer

Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal were the big three of tennis before that world was dominated by the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. And so, it was only natural that many wondered how their relationship off the court was. In December, during a conversation with former footballer and coach Slaven Bilic, Novak Djokovic addressed it all.

“My behavior towards them never changed. The situation changed because they changed their behavior towards me. I always tried to be, how to say, I admired them. And I still consider them as those who paved the way for me, especially Federer, who is six years older than me. But from the moment I felt this coldness and distance from him, I told myself: ‘Ok, no problem.’ Then, when they reached out to me, I welcomed them with open arms.”

By the time Novak Djokovic captured his first major title at the 2008 AO, Roger Federer had already won 13 Grand Slam titles, while Rafael Nadal had three French Open titles. Their dominance left Djokovic as the outsider trying to break into an era already defined by two global icons. ‘Fedal’ fans weren’t too pleased with Nole’s entry into the scene!

Top Stories

Coco Gauff Could Face Venus Williams Before Iga Swiatek–Aryna Sabalenka Nightmare Run at Australian Open

Carlos Alcaraz Faces Nightmare Australian Open Route as Tough Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner Showdown Awaits

Ben Shelton Caught in ASB Classic Mayhem as Horrible Conditions Stop Play Yet Again

Madison Keys’ Australian Open Prep Takes a Hit as 19-Year-Old Sensation Ousts Defending Adelaide Champion

Despite their historic battles and shared longevity, Djokovic was always direct about the nature of his relationship with the other two of the ‘Big 3’. “We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies. I’ve always had respect for Federer; he was one of the greatest of all time. He had an extraordinary impact, but I’ve never been close to him.”

His comments offer insight into the unique pressures of competing at the highest level, where rivalries often leave little room for personal closeness. Recently, former American pro, Sam Querrey highlighted a very interesting difference between both Federer and Djokovic.

“We always talk about who is the greatest of all time. In my opinion, with the stats, it’s Novak [Djokovic], he’s the greatest tennis player. But when you ask who’s the most beloved, who has the biggest impact, it’s Roger [Federer].”

In the Nothing Major Show, Querrey highlighted how Federer enjoyed crowd support everywhere he went. Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, often gets labeled as one of the most hated players in tennis. However, seeing how he reacts to the hecklers always gives a glimpse into what he really feels about his rivals.